Stand-up paddle boards, condensed as sups are popular among sea surfers and water babies whose hobbies include water activities. While the rigid versions of sups have long been used, the modern users refuse to spare a whole 12 feet in the already constricted space of their homes to a surf board. Resultantly, the manufacturers introduced inflatable sup boards that offer similar stand-up boating experience minus the hassles of finding a place to horde it.
Most people find the idea of blow-up rafts identical with inflatable sups. Curiously, the construct of both are very different, which is evident from the price tags they feature. Read on to know more about these boats.
Multipurpose Inflatable Sups
An inflatable sup is designed to float as a water transport and at the same time, serve as a mattress on flat and leveled grounds. These subs can be floated on the water and used as paddle boards, while in other times, you can use them to lay your back on for exercise, yoga, etc. The boards are soft and stable that gives the back a firm and stable alignment during the workouts.
Easy Storage and Carriage
Talking about storage, nothing can outdo an inflatable board. Unlike the rigid 12 feet structures, these ones take the minimum space. When deflated, they can be rolled up like a length of fiber and tucked to a far corner of the attic without blocking too much space. They are slim enough to fit in backpack pockets without much cramming and stashing. The boards can be easily heaved on top of trucks or rear storage of cars without doing much of a hauling job. Those who travel frequently will find an inflatable sup easy to pack with other light-weight items in their luggage, unlike the rigid models that can only be strapped to the roof of a van while travelling.
User-Friendly Boards
Conversely, it only takes 5 minutes to blow them back to their inflated form. With a blower at your disposal, you can prepare an inflatable sup in just minutes from a deflated sheet. The inflatable models are risk-free to use as they do not crack up or get punctured on coming in contact with a submerged rock. Instead, they bounce off and continue to drift in another direction.

Inflatable SUP: Ensuring unbridled fun in water sports

The mention of paddle boarding can make anyone with a keen interest in water sports go weak in their knees. Most paddlers swear by inflatables for their sporting activities. However, there is often confusion between an inflatable SUP and a hard board when it comes to choosing the right form of paddleboard.  Of course there are other factors like the kind of paddler you are and your plans of transporting and storing your SUP as well as budgetary concerns, all of which governs your choice. However, it is generally recommended you choose inflatables as they are convenient to their hard board counterparts in many respects.

Most paddleboards in the SUP market cater to the following types of paddling that is currently in vogue:

-Paddle Surfing

-Downwind Paddling

-Flat water Racing

-Touring Paddle Boards

-Recreational flat-water Paddling

- River or Rapid Paddling

Inflatable SUP or ‘inflatable stand up paddleboards’ is a sharp departure from its earlier avatar. Today one can find these boards with amazing looks and in smarter designs, with the affordable ranges adding brownie points.

Though traditionally inflatables were suited for travelling purposes only, but today anyone who is not a diehard surfer also roots for an inflatable SUP over the EPS or Epoxy board alternatives. This is primarily because of its merits as listed below:

-Easy storing: Most paddleboards in inflatable form when rolled, measures no less than 1 foot in diameter and 33” in width.

-Convenient transport: This is one of the biggest benefits with an inflatable unit. When deflated, it rolls up only to be fitted inside a backpack or strapped in a vehicle, thanks to the drop-stitch fabric with which its is made.

-Softer: Think of playing bumper boats? Then these inflatable items are perfect for you. In fact, kids too can jump from one board to the other on them without getting knocked down by the waves.

-Great on feet: Owing to its rigid nature, this type of paddleboard with air-cushioning is of immense benefit to the feet as compared to the hardboards.

-Indestructible: The fabric nature is a plus point helping one stay relieved that there will be no board cracks inside the inflatable structures.

-Budget-friendly: The reason why most people seem to get hooked to inflatables is the cost. Indeed, it’s an added advantage for travelers.

Now you can choose your inflatable SUP from the market, staying wary about the defective ones.